tic and by nation are shown in the Figure 2-5 and Figure 2-6.

In addition, the characteristics of how the circulative resources generated in our country are cyclically used are shown as follows in four classifications. (Figure 2-7)

a. Biomass type circulative resources

The biomass type circulative resources account for 54% of the entire amount of waste generation. Their contents are livestock excrement, organic sludge derived from water processing in the sewage works or manufacturing, wood wastes derived from construction sites and the manufacturing process of wood products, and household kitchen waste (garbage).

Because biomass type circulative resources contain a high proportion of water and organic substances, it is characteristic that the rate of reduction volume during incineration and dehydration is high, with the natural reduction rate to generation being 27%, the cyclical use rate 16%, the volume reduction rate 54% and a final disposal rate of 3%. The major usage of cyclical use is for compost and feed in agriculture.

Besides this, polluted mud is used for brick, and wood waste for reproduction wood board.

The input amount of biomass type resources in our country is 190 million tons; the amount of cyclical use is 50 million tons, therefore, the proportion of the cyclical use in the total material input of biomass type resources is 20%.

When looking to increase the cyclical use of biomass type circulative resources and decrease the amount of final disposal, it is useful to consider the following factors, the expansion of acceptance of fertilizer and feed in the agriculture area, the transformation to energy in methane fermentation facilities, and the promotion of the reduction of residual substances by incineration.

b. Nonmetal mineral type circulative resources

Nonmetal mineral (soil and rocks) type circulative resources account for 37% of the entire amount of generation of wastes. Their contents are, debris from construction sites, slag from the iron and steel manufacturing/non-ferrous metal/cast metal industries, non-organic sludge from construction sites and water purification plants, and glass bottles from households and restaurants.

As nonmetal mineral type circulative resources are inorganic material with a stable nature, about 60% are recycled; the cyclical use rate compared to generation is 64%, the reduction rate is 29% and the final disposal rate is 7%, but on the contrary, however, the final disposal rate is rather high. The major cyclical use is in civil engineering and construction such as materials for road base and cement. The input amount of nonmetal mineral type resources in our country is 710 million tons, the amount of cyclical use is 140 million tons, therefore, the proportion of cyclical use against the total material input of nonmetal mineral type resources is 16%.

When looking to increase the amount of nonmetal mineral type circulative resources and decrease the amount of final disposal, factors to consider are expanding the acceptance of such materials in civil engineering and construction e.g. road base material and cement material as fertilizer. However, demand for civil engineering and construction is and will be on a declining trend in the future, it will be necessary to examine the expansion of cyclical use in other areas and to con-

Figure 2-5 The Breakdown of Natural Resources, etc.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

template the examination of reduction strategies for final dis-

posal.

c. Metal type circulative resources

Metal type circulative resources account for 6% of the entire amount of generation of wastes. Their contents are, scrap material from construction sites, scrap metal from iron and steel manufacturing/non-ferrous metal industries, metal processing scrap from machinery and appliances manufacturing industries, and such used household products as metal cans and home electric appliances.

As metal type circulative resources are stable in nature and contain almost no water and collection/recycling systems have been established for many years; a characteristic point is the rate of cyclical use is relatively high, with a cyclical use rate compared to generation of 97%, the reduction rate is 0% and the final disposal rate is 3%. Typical usages are electrical furnace iron manufacturing, and metal resources input for non-ferrous metal refining. The input amount of metal type resources in our country is 170 million tons; the amount of cyclical use is 40 million tons, therefore, the proportion of cyclical use against the total material input of metal type resources is 17%.

When looking to increase the amount of metal type circulative resources and decrease the amount of final disposal, factors to consider are the promotion of the collection and recycling of those metals in products which have not been used for cyclical use.

d. Fossil type circulative resources

Fossil type circulative resources account for 3% of the entire amount of generation of wastes. They consist of waste oil from various manufacturing industries, plastics processing waste from plastic article manufacturing industries and machinery and appliance manufacturing industries, and used plastic articles from households and various industries.

As the characteristic point of fossil type circulative resources is a relatively high reduction rate in the incineration process, the cyclical use rate compared with generation is 35%, the reduction rate is 48% and the final disposal rate is 17%. Typical use of these circulative resources is as building materials for construction and as a reducing agent of iron ore and an alternative to coke in the shaft furnaces of the iron and steel industry. Occasionally they are recycled as plastics material, however, as presently different grade resins and additives are contained in cyclical used waste plastics, they are mostly used by cascading (downsize recycling). The input